The race in Berlin was a hot one. Here Akira Akasaki, is throwing down! In this photo he's currently in 3rd place quite a ways behind 2nd place. He's got 3.5 K to go and he's motoring. He would eventually catch and pass the guy in front and finish in 2nd place.
The 1970's
This is one of the pivotal decades in all of running and running shoes.
Running
On September 13, 1970 the New York Road Runners put on their first ever NYC Marathon. They did laps around Central Park.
1972 Olympics Munich
Frank Shorter ignites the running boom when he wins Gold In the Olympic Marathon. He would follow it up 4 years later in Montreal with a Silver Medal. The Olympics were broadcast into more homes than ever. Many of those who watched Frank run went out for a run the following day.
1974 - The first ever Berlin Marathon was held. This past weekend Berlin hosted more than 80,000 runners to the streets in the festival of running events. We don't yet know how many runners actually finished on Sunday but it doesn't change a thing. At 51 years old the Berlin Marathon has got to be a bucket list marathon for all.
Running Shoes
In 1971 after 7 years of Blue Ribbon sports, the name was changed to Nike. From this day forward they would no longer do business with Asics they would forever be Nike.
In 1972, Jim Davis would buy New Balance. Today New Balance is doing business in the billions of dollars and they are still owned and operated by Jim Davis. It's a true American success story.
Womens 400 Meters
At the World Championships in Tokyo the women's 400 meter was one for the ages. It might be one of the best races we have ever seen. It took Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (New Balance) to run the second fastest 400 meters ever to win by a whisker. She beat the current world and Olympic champion and a former world champion in the process. If you haven't seen it search on youTube. Watch it again.
Mens 5000 Meters
That kick! Cole Hocker (Nike) - Gold
